SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Oregon announced Tuesday a record high of 54 coronavirus deaths, bringing the state’s death toll to 1,214 people.
The Oregon Health Authority also recorded 1,129 new confirmed or presumptive COVID-19 cases, bringing the statewide total to 96,092.
State health officials said a surge of cases in November contributed to the high number of deaths reported Tuesday because of delays tallying death certificates in some cases.
The grim news comes as Oregon hospitals prepare to administer the first COVID-19 vaccines to health care workers.
Legacy Health and Oregon Health & Science University in Portland and Saint Alphonsus Hospital in Ontario are among those that will begin vaccinating staff at their facilities Wednesday, according to Gov. Kate Brown’s office.